I forgot about that.
I guess that's all I have to say.
Rather unusual...
Best Wishes,
Bruce, DOGRADIO STUDIO 2
The Deep Voice Long Wave Transmitter Project is back for action.
We are designing and building a part 15 long wave transmitter, based on an idea suggested by Bruce MICRO1700, utilizing the Radio 8Z designed buffer from the Big Talker SW transmitter we designed, and the special Radio 8Z final stage custom designed for 1-Watt long wave, and the front end consisting of a PLL circuit combined with a VFO oscillator submitted by RFB.
The project is documented here
http://www.kdxradio.com/deepvoice.html
The page needs some updating, but I am working on it.
Get ready for business.
Carl,
Nice to see the project back on the bench. I don't recall so pardon if this is repetitious but are you planning on using a loading coil on the antenna?
Neil
Right now the antenna is beyond the design stage of the moment, which is concentrating on the transmitter.
But when it comes to the antenna, I believe a loading coil the size of a car will be absolutely necessary to reach resonance.
My biggest concern, looking ahead, is how to manage the physical antenna without having a 50-foot vertical sky hook.
"My biggest concern, looking ahead, is how to manage the physical antenna without having a 50-foot vertical sky hook."
Perhaps a loaded inverted V might be easier to manage.
RFB
The main thing is to get
it on the air. Once you
have a running transmitter,
you can start with that
easier antenna.
Then after that, you can
see where you want to go.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, W 60 HZ
All day yesterday while people were casting votes for an outcome that had already been determined, I was drafting a detailed blueprint of the oscillator/PLL section so that I would have an absolute map of what to build.
Today will be the parts order list, another snail job, because I have some parts but not others. My collection of parts is in total disarray, but if I don't try to use them there will be no reason tom have them.
The first hour will be spent looking for a 20pF cap, the second hour a 51k resistor, and so on.
The winner of the election called and invited me to a celebration, but I said, "I'm involved looking for a 1uF inductor."
"The first hour will be spent looking for a 20pF cap, the second hour a 51k resistor, and so on."
Sometimes the solution is to locate a component that is within range of the value you actually need. Most common (non-military spec) components are going to have a tolerance range of 5 or 10 percent, which is like a huge barn door left open.
So finding a part that is "close" to the value you need will suffice, and save you from that endless search in finding a specialty value that you wont find on the off the shelf place.
IE..special order/custom mfg is not regular off the shelf stuff.
RFB
I need a LW transmitter for 160 to 190 kHz. I feel that 150 to 160 kHz should be allowed there is nothing there even 190 kHz to 300 kHz. LW should be brought here to the USA, the AM band is running out of room already. I feel my radio programming is long wave broadcast material. I am going to just break it out and buy different inductors and build a LW transmitter.
Great to have you on board gccradioscience!!
This transmitter is ready to build and all I need to do is upload the latest oscillator/PLL schematic, based on a suggestion from RFB.
Also, thanks to your inquiry about building a SCA Generator, I will work with the group to design an FM modulated version of the Deep Voice and that may be all that's needed.
"there is nothing there even 190 kHz to 300 kHz. LW should be brought here to the USA"
In some parts of the country there are still navigation beacons operating in that spectrum. I can pick one up on 220khz originating from the local airport.
Ironically, the LW band is the best band for navigation beacons because of their ability to transmit long distances, which when flying you want navigation beacons capable of reaching good distances from one nav point to another.
160-190khz here is completely dead. Nothing but AC buzz noise and static.
Eventually I will have my LW long wire antenna (box style) set up to do some LW DX'ing this winter.
RFB
With help from RFB I have now updated the project to include the big missing piece, the oscillator/PLL section.
The drafting of a schematic blueprint for a LW part 15 long wave transmitter is now published, Version 2.0.1.
The next stage is my building one of these and testing it, which may take a year because I am also busy with other projects.
If someone wants to rush forward and build one before anyone else, grab the gusto.
http://www.kdxradio.com/deepvoice.html
An additional bonus schematic will soon be posted, an optional buffer amplifier to add following the VCO/PLL and driving the Radio8Z booster amp. Since this transmitter has yet to be built in the physical world, it is not yet known if this extra buffer is needed.
We started to build a long wave transmitter per FCC 15.217, which allows 1-Watt between 160 and 190kHz, with up to a 50' antenna.
The project will move into an active phase again soon.
Tonight I monitored long wave and noticed that the radio I used was set for 9kHz increments, whereas other radios are set for 10kHz tuning. Digital radios can usually be set for preferred tuning, including 1kHz tuning, and analog radios will tune whatever is on the dial.
Thinking about the two target frequencies proposed By Ken Norris of Friday Harbor Tiny Radio, 162kHz and 180kHz, we note that 180kHz happens to fall on both the 9kHz and the 10kHz scale, so ...
Be it hereby Resolved that the Target Frequency for the Deep Voice Transmitter Project will be 180kHz.
Stand by for more. Input is always welcome.
This was the first article I ever read on longwave!